Mexico’s Under-17 youth national team extended their dream run in the 2013 World Cup in United Arab Emirates early Tuesday morning with a 3-0 victory over Argentina in the semifinals. The young Tri will now face Nigeria in the final on Friday and look to repeat as champions from the last time they were crowned during the 2011 tournament. In addition, Mexico will also look to bring their U-17 World Cup titles total to three with a victory over the Eagles.

For Chivas USA forward Julio Morales, the 19-year-old knows very well the wide range gamut of emotions going through the youngsters’ minds as they compete on the biggest stage for a footballer.

Morales, in his first season with the Rojiblancos, competed with Mexico’s U20 team in the World Cup held in Turkey in July and the striker recalled the level of emotion that such a competition brings out in young players representing their country.

“There is nervousness, but not the kind of nerves where you feel like you are going to do bad, but nerves of wanting to go out on the field and get it going,” Morales said.

Morales referred to the emotion as a “good nervousness,” and said that his advice to the U17s would be the same that his coaches have instilled in him, which is to go out and enjoy the experience and to block out everything around them. And Above all, just focus on the match to go out and have fun.

One additional element that drove him to perform and remain focused, Morales said, was the motivation to do well for his biggest fans – his family.

”I always had my family in mind, to want to make them proud and more than anything give thanks to God that he gave me the opportunity to be on that stage.”

Come Friday, the striker will be rooting for his fellow youth colleagues as well as the youth system that gave him the opportunity to continue developing his talents against top competition from his category.

“I’m very happy that they moved on to the final through so much effort and dedication and above all, that they will get to defend the title,” Morales added. “To reach the final of a World Cup, whether it be with the youth teams or senior team, is a huge excitement that you can have in your professional career.

”Mexico is a great country where there are very good players in the youth system and that is why we want to compete in all the tournaments to represent the county and hopefully win them all.”